Portable dredge



N. a. INSLEY FITN-v PORTABLE DREDGE Sheet Filed 001:. 21, 1965 v v6 *3 wk March 4, 1969 E, .NSLEY ETAL Y 3,430,920

PORTABLE, DREDGE Filed Oct. 21. 1965 Sheet 7 014 INVENTORS' A49 nM/WEL Z'ammo [#341 5y March 4, 1969 N L ETAL 3,430,920

PORTABLE DREDGE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 Sheet 4 01 4 INVENTORS fl fir/M/wa Z'omma b545 ATTQRHEE? United States Patent 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improved winch machinery for dredges and the like including electro-pneumatic clutch means and brake means associated with a plurality of winding drums rotatably mounted on a shaft wherein the shaft has a common air passageway to which all clutches are connected for their source of air.

This invention relates to dredges of the type adapted to excavate material from the marine bottom of a lake, stream or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to winch machinery for dredges and the like wherein lines are adapted to be wound on drums mounted on a shaft.

It is an object of this invention to provide winch machinery including a plurality of hoisting or hauling drums rotatably mounted on a single shaft so as to provide greater simplicity. Likewise, another object of this invention includes the provision of electro-pneumatic clutch means for each drum adapted to selectively clutch each drum to the shaft. It is another object of this invention to provide a single passageway extending axially through the shaft for supplying compressed air to all the clutch means. It is still another object of this invention to fix a portion of the clutch to the shaft for rotation therewith and to provide means for electrically operating a solenoid valve on the rotating clutch whereby the supply of compressed air from the passageway of the shaft to each clutch can be controlled.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the dredge;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the dredge shown in FIG- URE 1 with some parts broken away to expose details ordinarily hidden from view;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the hauling machinery;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken substantially along the lines 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of one hoisting drum and associated clutch mechanism; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the brake mechanism for one hoisting drum.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URES l to 6 a portable dredge 20 embodying the invention. More specifically, FIGURES 1 and 2 disclose a portable dredge 20 which, as illustrated comprises a buoyant hull 22 including forward 24 and aft 26 detachably-connected, water-tight portions. In order to make the buoyant hull portable, the forward portion, as illustrated, comprises a central pontoon 28, a pair of forward side pontoons 30 and a pair of aft side pontoons 32, the side pontoons being detachably connected to the central pontoon so that they can be separated into easily transportable sections. The forward side pontoons 30 extend beyond the forward end of the central pontoon 28 so as to form a yoke in which a ladder is received. The aft portion comprises a transverse spud pontoon 34 with its longitudinal axis lying transversely of the pair of aft side pontoons 32 and the central pontoon 28. It will be appreciated, however, that any arrangement of pontoons can be used to provide dredges of larger or smaller sizes. The various pontoons are transported to a side adjacent the dredging site, assembled on land, and then launched into the water.

A pair of elongated cylindrical spuds 36 are vertically and slidably mounted in spud wells 38 transversely and disposedly positioned on the transverse spud pontoon 34. The spud wells 38 are preferably received in recesses 40 in the spud pontoon 34 so that they are located interiorly of and adjacent to the aft transverse end of the spud pontoon. Such a design increases the portability of the dredge inasmuch as it minimizes the space required for the hull parts in shipping while at the same time maximizing the swing radius for a hull of given length. In addition, aft winch machinery is carried by the spud pontoon 34 and includes a motor 44, preferably hydraulic, hoisting drums 46, and cables '48 attached at one end of the hoisting drums and entrained over pulleys 50 mounted on aft spud frame 52 supported on the spud pontoon 34. The aft winch machinery cooperates with the spuds to raise and lower them as desired.

The cable is attached at its other end to one side of a sleeve 5'4 slidably positioned on the spud. A pin 56 extending through the spud enables the sleeve to transmit its lifting force to the spud so as to raise it to the desired level. Likewise, the sleeve can be lowered enabling the spud to drop to a greater depth. The spuds have a series of vertically disposed holes 42 for receiving the pin 56 thereby accommodating varying depths. The pair of spuds 36 provide means for advancing the dredge. Thus, when one spud is raised from engagement with the marine bottom, the dredge can pivot forwardly about the other spud. By alternately pivoting about each spud, the dredge can advance in a stilt-like manner. While a pair of spuds are used in this particular dredge, it will be appreciated that the dredge could have one spud so long as there was some means of propelling the dredge forwardly. Moreover, one spud might be used if some of the novel elements of this invention were employed with a dipper dredge, clamshell dredge, or the like.

A ladder 58 is pivotally received within the yoke defined by the pair of forward side pontoons 30 and the forward end of the central pontoon. Thus, the ladder is pivotally mounted, as at 60, to the pontoon 2'8 and pivots between the side pontoons. As illustrated, the ladder is formed by a pair of tubular members 62 extending in substantially parallel relation at the aft portion of the ladder and supporting a preferably perforated plate deck 64. A transverse tubular member 66 joins the aft ends of the parallel members. At the forward portion of the ladder the pair of tubular members converge and support a plurality of transverse members 68 which carry a cutter drive means 70 and a cutter shaft 72. A cutter head '74, preferably of a rotary type, is mounted on the forward end of the converging tubular members and is operatively connected to the cutter drive means 70 by the cutter shaft 72. The cutter head is secured in such a manner that it preferably extends forwardly and downwardly at an angle of approximately less than 20 with respect to the principal axis of the ladder. It will be appreciated that the cutter drive means includes a submersible type motor which is preferably placed adjacent to the cutter head so that the cutter shaft does not have to be too long.

There is also provided a suction means for removing cut material from the marine bottom comprising a first suction pipe 76 carried by the hull 22 and a second suction pipe 78 carried by the ladder 58. The second suction pipe 78, as illustrated, is carried essentially below the ladder and above the water line when the ladder is horizontal. The first and second suction pipes are connected together in the area adjacent the ladder pivot by a flexible suction hose 80 which permits pivotal movement between the first and second suction pipes and thus accommodates the pivotal movement of the ladder. The second suction pipe terminates in a suction mouth 82 adjacent the cutter head through which the cuttings from the marine bottom are removed.

The buoyant hull 22 has a deckhouse 84 and aft machinery house 86 mounted thereon and extending above the deck 85:. of the buoyant hull. The deckhouse contains an operators compartment 90 positioned above the level of the deck with the control equipment, not shown, located therein. The aft machinery house covers a recess in the center pontoon 28 in which part of the first suction pipe 76, a suction-pipe pump 94, cooling and service pumps 96, and an engine 98 for the various pumps are located. The forward winch machinery 100 is positioned forward of the recess in the center pontoon and approximately under the deckhouse so as to be easily controlled therefrom. The forward winch machinery 100 is preferably driven by a suitable hydraulic motor 102 and the cutter drive means preferably comprises a similar hydraulic motor. Accordingly, between the forward winch machinery and the pump equipment located in the recess of the center pontoon there is located an auxiliary engine 104 whch drives hydraulic pumps 106 for the hydraulic motors of the cutter drive means and forward and aft winch machinery. As illustrated, the auxiliary engine is offset to one side of the center pontoon so that the pumps 106 will be substantially aligned with the hydraulic motors. A generator 110 is also carried by one of the aft side pontoons.

The first suction pipe 76 extends forwardly from the pump 94 axially of the center pontoon and is connected to the second suction pipe through the flexible pipe 80. From the pump a discharge pipe 111 extends transversely of the hull and then axially rearwardly along one of the side pontoons so as to avoid extending between the spuds and interfering with the aft winch machinery and pump engine. The pump 94 draws material from the marine bottom through the second and first suction pipes and then discharges it through the discharge pipe. Further discharge pipes, not shown, could be connected to the aft end of the discharge pipe mounted on the dredge to carry the material to its desired relocation.

A forward gallows frame 112 is supported substantially vertically by a pair of rearwardly extending stiffener legs 114 on the forward end of the pair of forward side pontoons 30 and straddles the ladder. An A-frame 116, having the base of its legs secured to the forward side pontoons adjacent the connection of the gallows frame, likewise straddles and extends forwardly over the ladder, the apex of the A-frame being supported from the top of the gallows frame, as by cables 118. A set of pulleys, one 120 being secured to the apex of the A-frame and the other 122 being operatively secured to the ladder adjacent its forward end, entrain a ladder cable 124.

A pair of anchor booms 126 are also pivotally secured to the forward side pontoons adjacent the connection of the gallows frame and extend upwardly and outwardly over the side pontoons. A pulley block 128 is suspended at the free extremity of each anchor boom and supports an anchor line 130 attached at its outer end to the base of an anchor (not shown). Moreover, a pair of swing sheaves 132 are attached to opposite sides of the forward portion of the ladder and have a pair of swing lines 134 entrained therethrough and connected at their outer ends to the top of anchors not shown. The other ends of the ladder cable 124, anchor lines 130, and swing lines 134 are wound and unwound on a plurality of hoisting (or hauling) drums which form part of the forward winch machinery.

The ladder cable 124 obviously lowers and raises the ladder to the appropriate dredging depth. The swing lines 134 and associated anchors operate to swing the dredge However, this dredge does incorporate certain other features, as follows, which enable the dredge to operate in a more flexible and eflicient manner and generally accomplish the objects of the invention previously set forth.

WINCH MACHINERY FIGURES 3 through 6 show the forward winch machinary in detail. Basically, the forward winch machinery comprises a plurality of winch drums 212 (either called hoisting drums or hauling drums depending on the nature of the job) of which two hoisting drums 214 are associated with the port and starboard anchor lines two hauling drums 216, with the port and starboard swing lines 134; and one hoisting drum 218, with the ladder cable 124. Bacause of space limitations the anchor drums are actually positioned on the side pontoons, it being realized that the anchor drums could in fact be completely eliminated from the dredge. All of the (winch) drums 212 are freely supported by a drive shaft 220, as seen in FIGURE 5, on anti-friction bearings 222. A pair of channel-beams 224 or any other similar supporting structure are mounted transversely on the deck of the buoyant hull in order to distribute the weight of the forward winch machinery over a greater area. A plurality of second channel-beams 226 extend longitudinally of the hull and are supported transversely across the first channel beams. These second channel beams support bearing houses 228 through which the drive shaft 220 extends and by which it is rotatably supported. A pair of the second channel beams 226 and bearing houses 228 are positioned on opposite sides of each winch drum 212. A motor means 102, such as a hydraulic motor, is sup ported on a plurality of channel beams 230 carried by the deck of the hull and is operatively and drivingly connected to the drive shaft 220, as by a chain drive 232, so as to rotate the same. As illustrated, this motor means is located on the aft side of the drive shaft between the ladder hoisting drum and the port swing hauling drum.

As seen in FIGURE 5, an annular brake ring 234 extends perpendicularly outwardly from one of its flanges. An annular driving ring 236 is also secured to one flange and extends outwardly therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to the brake ring 234. The driving ring is operatively connected to the drive shaft so as to be driven thereby through a clutch mechanism, shown generally at 238, which enables the associated winch drum to be operated upon selective actuation of the clutch mechanism.

As illustrated schematically in FIGURE 5, the clutch mechanism 238 includes a clutch unit 240 keyed to the drive shaft 220 so as to rotate continuously therewith. A clutch driving ring 242 meshes with the driving ring 236 of the winch drum through a connection 244 which allows axial movement of the clutch driving ring in relation to the drive shaft while maintaining engagement with the driving ring of the winch drum.

The drive shaft 220 has an air conduit 246 extending axially therethrough charged with compressed air entering the shaft at one end through a rotary coupling member 248. An air pipe 250 extends from the air conduit to a solenoid actuated clutch supply valve 252 mounted on the clutch unit for rotation therewith. A solenoid 254 is secured to the supply valve 252 to control the passage of compressed air to a pneumatic pressure unit, not shown in detail, within the clutch unit which causes the clutch driving plate 242 to be engaged within the rotating clutch unit upon actuation. Accordingly, rotational movement of the clutch and drive shaft is transmitted to the winch drum 212. The solenoid 254 is remotely controlled from the operators compartment in the deckhouse. To efiect such control a collector ring 256 is secured to the rotating drive shaft 220 adjacent each winch drum and is electrically connected by wires 258 to the corresponding solenoid 254 and valve 252. Brushes 260 are held in operative engagement with the collector ring by means of a fixed brush holder 262. Electrical wires 264 connect the brushes to the control console, not shown, so that electrical impulses can be directed from the control console, through the brushes to the commutator ring, and finally to the solenoid valve. The air pipe 250 also extends from the supply valve to a dump valve 266 to actuate the same when the supply of compressed air is not diverted into the pneumatic unit of the clutch. When the dumping valve is open, it exhausts air from the pneumatic unit so as to retain the clutch driving plate in a disengaged position.

In operation, the axial conduit 246 in the drive shaft is charged with air as is air pipe 250 leading to the supply valve. Remote electric controls are activated sending an elecric current through wiring to the fixed brush holder and brushes thus charging the collector ring. This collector ring rotates continuously with the shaft and is electrically connected to the solenoid which in turn actuates the clutch supply valve to release compressed air into the pneu-maic unit. The pneumatic unit causes the clutch driving plate to be engaged by the clutch unit. The rotational power of the drive shaft and clutch is then transmited to the winch drum through the interengagement of the clutch driving plate and the drive ring of the drum. Upon deenergization of the solenoid, compressed air is directed to the dump valve to hold it open so that compressed air in the pneumatic unit can be exhausted to the atmosphere.

A rachet 268 is shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 5 and can be seen more fully in FIGURES 3 and 4. The rachet 268 is found on the ladder drum 218 only and cooperates with a pawl 270 to hold the ladder in a set position thus removing the strain from the brake unit on the ladder drum.

A brake means 272 is associated with each winch drum. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the brake is mounted on the pair of first channel beams 224 and comprises a band 274 which encircles the brake ring 234 of each winch drum 212. The band is secured at one end to a fixed member 276 and is secured at the other end to one end of a lever 278 pivotally connected immediate its two ends to the fixed member 27 6. The other end of the lever is operatively connected to a piston 280 received in a pneumatic cylinder 282. Spring means 284 ordinarily retains the other end of the lever in a position such that the band snugly engages the brake ring and prevents rotational movement of the winch drum. Upon actuation from the control console through a compressed air valve, not shown, compressed air is directed to the cylinder actuating the piston and lever and releasing the brake band. When the supply of compressed air is cut off, the brake is again set by the spring.

While the winch machinery has been described in relation to a dredge, it will be appreciated that such machinery could be used in any apparatus including a winding drum rotatably mounted on a shaft and adapted to be selectively keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith.

What is claimed is:

1. Winch machinery for dredges and the like comprising:

frame means;

a rotatable shaft mounted in the frame means and having means defining an axial passage extending therethrough;

a plurality of Winding drums rotatably and independently mounted on the shaft;

an electro-pneumatic clutch means operatively associated with each winding drum and adapted to selectively clutch each drum independently of the other drums to the shaft;

brake means operatively associated with each winding drum and adapted to brake each drum independently of the other drums to the shaft;

conduit means connecting the axial passage to each electro pneumatic clutch means; and

means for selectively controlling the clutch means and brake means of each drum.

2. The winch machinery defined in claim 1 wherein each clutch means is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith.

3. The winch machinery defined in claim 1 wherein there are at least three winding drums mounted on the shaft.

4. The winch machinery defined in claim 1 wherein each clutch means has a portion fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith and including a solenoid valve mounted to such portion and controlling the supply of compressed air from the passage to the corresponding clutch means.

5. The winch machinery defined in claim 4 including a commutator means for each clutch means, each commutator means being rotatably associated with the shaft and electrically connected to the corresponding solenoid valve for supplying electric surrent thereto.

6. In an arrangement which includes a plurality of pneumatic clutch means mounted on a rotatable shaft, each having a portion fixed to the shaft, the improvement comprising:

means defining a first compressed air passageway extending axially through the shaft;

means defining a second compressed air passageway connecting the first passageway of the shaft to each pneumatic clutch means; and

means associated with the second passageway for controlling the supply of compressed air from the first passageway to each corresponding clutch means.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein the control means for each clutch means comprises a solenoid valve mounted to the portion of the clutch fixed to the shaft and controlling the supply of compressed air from the first passageway to each corresponding clutch means, and means to activate each solenoid valve.

8. The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein the means to actuate each solenoid valve comprises a commutator ring fixed to the shaft, the commutator ring being electrically connected to the solenoid valve, and means for supplying electric current to the commutator ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 484,763 10/1892 Bowers 37-67 634,865 10/1899 Bates 37-67 776,217 11/ 1904 Cantwell 37-67 1,215,241 2/1917 Bereiter 254-142 1,619,850 3/1927 Casey 37-67 1,682,358 8/1928 Sperry 74661 XR 2,065,715 12/1936 Leon 114-187 XR 2,461,311 2/ 1949 Cushing et a1 37-67 XR 2,664,981 1/ 1954 DOzourille 192-84 3,094,795 6/1963 Schmidt 37-67 3,291,451 12/1966 Trollope 254- 3,352,540 11/ 1967 Schlechter 254-185 OTHER REFERENCES Roads and Streets publication, p. 148, August 1959.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner. 

